BP online

Sign of the times, really - Bass Player magazine will cease publication & go online instead. I still love to read gear-related magazines but going to town & buying them is a hassle. I believe there's less readership when it comes to the physical publications & many of us don't mind reading the digital / online version. It's a green move as well; less paper used. Let's see if I can just grab the final copy before not seeing them any more at bookstores / news stands. Still remember those days when I spend virtually the whole day at MPH (Stamford Road) reading Guitar World, Bass Player & Metal Maniacs.

Pic: Future Music

Flawed gold (2)

Remember the Gibson LP Deluxe I purchased from the recent Swee Lee Katong sale? So here's the flaw - finish checking. That's right folks, it's a brand new, unplayed guitar kept away untouched till the clearance happened. If it's a relic job, this would be ace. However, since it's not, it is considered as a damaged affair. There is actually nothing wrong with the instrument, even the wood is in perfect condition. A finish checking means the paint job under the gloss coating cracked due to temperature changes. If you are bothered by this condition, it's a definite deal breaker.

Even the binding had begun its undoing plus a cracked pickguard - all these when the instrument was unboxed. And I still bought it! The pickguard issue could have been avoided if the factory hands had been a little generous when tightening it during assembly. It should not be over-tightened & given the opportunity to 'breathe' when subjected to temperature changes which would definitely happen as the instrument travelled across continents & kept away in storage thereafter. Given the checking issue, the cracked pickguard was the least of my worries; it's replaceable. 

That's right, a plain truss rod cover for this one as well.

I managed to add felt cushions for the strap buttons to prevent the glossed body surface from reacting with the metal parts. I don't see why this was not considered at the factory.

After a quick fretboard conditioning & re-stringing, goldie here proved to be one of the most appealing LPs in my books. If this guitar was kept longer in storage, it would have died a negligent death, which would be a very sad affair. The fact that the clearance happened, it was fated to be taken out & live out its remaining life with a deserving owner & that would be me, I guess. I agreed to buy this one because: 1) It was clearing for a good price 2) Whatever happened to the guitar was not due to any mishandling. The only human oversight here was that it was inventorized & forgotten. I was told, this is the only one here & the LP Deluxe models that came after it were the awful robot tuner, 3-knob models. 

The neck profile is unique. It's neither a slim taper 60s type nor a fat, 50s version; this is the initial attraction. Those default mini humbuckers are also likeable for folks who shred & engage in high octane rock/ metal. If they were conceived to sound vintage then I don't hear that coming from my set up. Then again, my setup does not facilitate that kind of tone manifestation. Regardless of the flaws, I like this one from the start. 

Goodbye: Musicark

Musicark is closing their doors for good after 7 years in the industry. The instruments featured here are the final few they have in stock.

Do visit their website to secure the guitar online: Musicark clearance

Farewell

It's just two days ago that I gave the VFE Pale Horse a thumbs up & here we are dealing with this sad news. VFE pedals are saying goodbye for good in cyber space. A good move in view of Mr. Rutter's current need for focus financing & family time for his newborn son who's facing upcoming surgeries. We wish him a good passage into testing times & be granted ease in dealing with all affairs. The remaining pedals are going for good discounts. One more time in case you missed it: CLICK

Closing Carvin

Carvin Audio is closing down. Please do not confuse Carvin Audio with the Kiesel line of instruments which is still in business. The amplifier & pro audio factory is the subject concerned. They way I see it, this had been in the works since the Kiesel re-branding of their guitars. With this secured & seeing no takers coming along to take up the amp/audio side of manufacturing, it's easier to close down than continue waiting. The above screen capture is from their FB page. 

Goodbye: SV Guitars (J Cube)

Managed to say goodbye to SV Guitars (J Cube branch) last Friday (18/3/'16). According to Mike (owner), this branch would have seen its 4th anniversary in a few days time but there was no obligations to have a sentimental end to this. From my observations, retail stores suffer at J Cube. Many F&B outlets had folded since the center's opening. It's just not renowned for commercial activities other than movies & ice-skating. The Jurong neighbourhood is currently cluttered with shopping centers; Westgate, JEM & IMM- all competing for customers. The newly opened hospital in this neighbourhood would have increased consumer traffic but it's all about choice- people still give considerations to preference & proximity. Why break a sweat to dine at J Cube when there are plenty of choices at JEM/ Westgate? 

Anyway, many thanks to SV Guitars for giving us guitar dweebs the options while they were residing in J Cube. They are not gone for good, SV Guitars still has its primary branch at Peninsula Hotel basement. All the best in their future endeavours. 

Gramophone: Goodbye, thank you

Gramophone shuts down for good- that's sad. But it's the sign of the times; people don't buy CDs anymore, they get their music in digital formats online, legitimately or otherwise. But that's true for pop music, it's a simple formula, everyone wants the flavour of the moment & they are in it for the moment, there's no interest in appreciation.

This is why I still buy CDs, not that I wanna sound snobbish here but it's down to the music genre & personal interest/ appreciation. 

I listen to loads of guitar-inclined stuff- jazz/ blues/ prog/ metal which aren't generally popular & would likely appeal to introverts. Online music providers aren't keen to offer them in digital format online because they know these stuff won't sell. Only the artists take pains to offer them for sale at their personal homepages.

I'm also into the musician & not just the music per se. I would want to read the lyrics, see pictures, discover equipment endorsements & enjoy miscellaneous linear notes recorded in the CD sleeve, not just get the music for the sake of it. These are the reasons I buy CDs; it's the joy of having something tangible in my hands & not about the ear candy exclusively. It's an experience to behold each & every time I buy music, not the convenience of clicking buttons & getting them anyway.

On another note, I am particular about digital conversion as well; most of the mp3-ready music sold online manifest bad conversion, it's down to the bit rate in use, many of them are low so that the music could be transferred quickly over cyberspace & they don't take up too much memory. The result- digital slush. The next time you listen to digital stuff, listen to the cymbals & snares closely, if these sound like flowing/ splashing water, you know you can do a better conversion job.

My favourite Gramophone outlet used to be the Parkway Parade branch. I'd make it a point to check stuff out after the session at Beez's (before he moved to the City Hall area). Most of my pop music stuff was bought here. I used to live in the east as well so this branch was the most convenient. I could spend up to an hour just looking for my music there & noting good bargains before heading home. But it looks like such episodes are now fond memories, together with that of MPH (Stamford Road) & Boders (Wheelock Place). 

PS: Pic taken from The Straits Times online edition

Hamer guitars to close down

Hamer guitars will cease operations after 37 years of presence. Fender owns the Hamer brand name after its purchase from Kaman in 2007. The parent company cited declining sales as the cause.

My exposure to Hamer guitars was largely attributable to Trey Azagthoth (Morbid Angel) & Rick Nielsen (Cheap Trick). Hamer guitars are available at City Music & I've played them to test the feel & tone which aren't too detached from the other guitar brands out there. The range available here are also limited & largely consist of the affordable models. This is the predicament of having a giant parent company overseeing the operations of small time players; they need the leverage but at the same time, are at the mercy of being axed at the first considerations should sales go wayward.